John i



(No Model.)

J. I. BRAKE.

YELECTRIC METER.

No. 335,687. Patented Peb. 9, 1886.

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i' NITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN I. DRKE, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

ELECTRIC METER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 335,687, dated February 9, 1886.

Application filed May l5, 1885,

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN I. DRAKE, a citi zen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Recording Time and Electric-Current Meters; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and eX- act description of the invention, such as will enable others'skillcd in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or iigures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to meters for automatically recording the strength or force of the current in an electric-line circuit,and also the time or period during which the current 1s in use.

rLlhe invention consists, essentially, in the combinatiomwith a solenoid or helix,of asuitably mounted and weighted beam connected with the armature of said helix.

The invention also consists in the combination, with the helix and weighted beam, of a clock-train or 'chronometer-movement which imparts motion to a drum or cylinder carrying a suitably graduated or ruled paper, whereby a pencil connected and moving with the armature is made to record upon said graduated surface both the duration and force of the electric current, as well as indicating any changes or fluctuations therein, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth and claimed.

The object of my improved meter is primarily to automatically record the time or hours during which the electric current passes through the helix, and also at the same time to record the strength or force of said current, whereby-ais, for example, in an electric-light circuit-the number of lights and the time during which they were burning can be readily determined by an inspection of the diagram, the latter having been produced by the combined action of the pencil-carrying armature and the revolving cylinder connected with the clock-train, the said meter and lights being located in the same electric circuit. By means of the record or diagram thus produced may he computed the number of lights that wfre Serial Noi 165,572, (No model.)

point is adapted to engage the top or zero line of the indicator-paper when the electric current is removed.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figure l represents in elevation a view of the improved meter as in use. Fig. 2 isatop view of the same, (reduced scale.) Fig. 3 is a vertical central section through the armature and helix. Fig. 4 is a vertical central section through the clock-train audits attached cylinder. Fig. 5 is a view of a section of the indicator-paper, showing a diagram thereon; and Fig. 6 represents in reduced scale a partial view of the meter, showing the armature and pencil in the highest position, the latter bearing against the zero-line of the paper, the opposite end of the beam at the same time rest-v ing against the adjustable stop.

The following is a detailed description of the invention, including the manner of its construction and operation:

A, again referring to the drawings, designates the self-recording time and electric-current meter as a whole.

B designates the heliX, consisting of the brass spool b,wound with the current-wire B.-

C is the soft-iron armature, having a spindle, B2, mounted centrally therein, said armature being adapted to slide freely up and down the helix B', the spindle serving as a guide therefor by means of its engagement with the center hole, b', of said spool, all as usually constructed.

E is a brass standard, provided at its upper end witha slot or other equivalent means for the purpose of receiving the beam N, and also forming the fulcrum for its knife-edge pivot f. The beam N is segment-shaped at its outer end, the point of its describing-radius being the center oi' said pivotf.

w indicates a flexible connection, (secured at w to the upper portion of said segment,)

IOO

carrying the weight W, which serves as a counter-balance yfor the armature C and its connections. h

W designates the weights, which equal the forceor strength of the electric current required to maintain the lights of the circuit, each of said weights W corresponding t0 the electrical force necessary to produce one light, the unit therefor having been previously determined by experiment. The inner arm, fn, of the beam connects at n with the link L, which in turn connectswith the armature C by means of the pin Z.

s designates asmall standard,secured tothe top of the said armature, adapted to retain the marking point or pencil I?, the latter having a light spring, s, bearing against its rear end, for the purpose of insuring the contact of the point with the paper secured to the revolving cylinder, all as fully shown.

T indicates a clock-train mounted within a casing, D2, and connected with the standard e by means of the support t.

D indicates adrum or cylinder surrounding the clock mechanism, said cylinder being secured to the center or hour-hand7 spindle, m, as shown in Fig. 4.

cl is the paper or other surface, which is suitably ruled and graduated, the same being wrapped around the exterior of said cylinder D, the spurs s2 or other equivalent means serving to retain the paper iu position thereon, the vertical divisions shown corresponding to hour-spaces, which may be subdivided into fractional parts of an hour, if desired. y

E designates the base to which the helix B and standards F e are secured. Said base may be made of any suitable material, such as metal, wood, glass, hard rubber, gte.

Assuming, now, that the armature C, dto., is in the position shown in Fig. 6, and that the revolving drum D is covered with the graduated paper d, and, further, supposing the meter to be connected with and forminga part of an velectric circuit in which there are located, say, sixteen lamps, (either arc or incandescent,) then the operation of the device would be substantially as follows: rlhe electric current passes first from the dynamo or generator through the wire H to the helix- B, and thence to the conducting-wire H, which connectsl directly with all the lamps in the circuit. Now, by referring to Fig. 5 it will be noticed that at the hour ofeleven four lamps werelighted, thereby causing the armature C and the pencil P to fall to line 4, These four lamps burned about three-fourths of an hour, when twol additional lamps were lighted, which dropped the armature two spaces lower, to line 6. The six lamps remained burning about twenty minutes, when they were all suddenly shut off, thereby causing the armature to rise, the pencil again engaging the zero-line soon after the hour of twelve, all as fully indicated in the diagram o of said Fig. 5. In case, however, all the lamps (sixteen) were lighted, then the pencil would trace a continuous horizontal line on line 16 during the time said lamps were burning lunder uniform pressure or force. Any material changes orfluctuations in the electric current will be recorded upon the paper d and shown in the resulting diagram.

It is obvious that in lieu of the pencil P a metallic point may be used in connection with paper having a suitably-prepared surface, or colored liquids or ink may be substituted for the pencil, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

My improved meter is also adapted to be used for recording the amount or quantity of electricity passing through the wire for other purposes-as, for example, electric motors or engines-in which case the unit or standard of measurement as indicated by the parallel horizontal lines I 2 S, &c., would necessarily be4 modified.

It is further obvious that the meter may be employed at the station to indicate the number of lamps burning in all the circuits of the system. In this case, however, the weights W would equal or correspond to the total number of lamps, the paper d also being correspondingly ruled therefor.

It is practically found that the armature moves down and up in a certain ratio, according as the intensity of the current passing through the helix B is maintained or varied,

lrespectively-that is -to say, after having adjusted the armature and pencil to stop or rest opposite the zero-line by means of the counter-weight W and stop a', as hereinbefore described, then for a ten-light circuit the ten weights W (or a single weight having the same total gravity) are suspended from the beam, each of said weights corresponding to the force of the electric current necessary to maintain one light. Now, if a single lamp is burning, the attractive force acting upon the armature will be sufficient only to depress the latter one space or division of the graduated paper, the ten weights at the same time being correspondingly raised; but if the ten lamps be lighted, then the armature, &c., will stop at the lower or base line. Finally, as the lamps are successively shut off, so relatively will the armature automatically rise, and the weights be depressed in a reversed ratio. By means of the revolving cylinder D, provided with the indicatorpaper, the movement of said armature is automatically recorded, as before described.

It is evident that the ruled paper (l may be in the form of a web or roll, one end of which is connected with mechanism having a uniform rate of motion. In such case the paper unwinds from the roll and moves longitudinally in front of the pencil, thereby producing a diagram, as before described. A suitable table, however, is placed opposite the pencilpoint and in the rear of the paper, for the purpose of insuring the contact of the pencil and paper.

I am aware that it is not new to combine mechanism carrying a pencil or tracer with a IIO IIS

drum actuated by means of a ehronometermovement. Therefore I do not claim such construction, broadly; but the device hereinbefore described for automatically recording the movement of the armature of a solenoid or helix is both new and useful.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

I. In a recording time and electriccurrent meter, the combination, with the helix and its armature, having a pencil or tracer adapted to move in unison with the armature, of a suitably-1nounted lever having one end thereof connected with said armature, and the other end having a flexible connection carrying counter-weights, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

2. In arccording electric meter, the standard F, having an adjustable stop, a, in combination with the weighted beam N, fulerum ed to the standard F, and the cup-armature C, connected with the beam, substantially as shown and described.

8. The paper-carrying cylinder D, adjustably secured to the center moving spindle, m, of a cloclrtrain, and completely incasing said train, the latter being supported by means of the standard c, substantially as shown and set forth. Y

4. In combination with abase, E, standards F e, and helix B', all secured to said base, the counterweighted lever N,pivoted to the standard F, a cup-armature, C, carrying a pencil or tracer, P, connected with said lever, and the clock-train 'I, operating the paper-carrying drum or barrel D, the Whole constructed and arranged substantially as shown, and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth. y

5. In a self-recording electric meter, the combination, with a helix or solenoid connected in an electric circuit, an armature having a pencil or tracer, and mechanism for moving a piece of paper, d, against the point of said tracer, of the suitably-mounted lever N, having its inner end, n, connected with said armature, the outer portion of the lever having a series of counter-Weights connected therewith adapted to move in a straight line or parallel with the vertical axis of the standard or other support in which the lever is mounted, all constructed and arranged substantially as shown and set forth.

In testimony whereofI have affixed my signa ture in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN I. DRAKE.

Vitnesses:

Wn. R. DUTEMPLE, GEO. H. RmrrNGTove 

